North East Buses

(02 Feb 2026, 8:01 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Sadly, and some will disagree, but if they can't do a full days service then the right answer is to move them off the 21.

This absolutely won't happen.

And there's absolutely no chance GNE would have bought the wrong bus for its flagship route. 

(Ssshhh nobody mention the Angel Omincities!)

I dont get why they didnt get charging stuff installed at Durham especially since theyre getting electric buses, or in eldon square or CLS

(03 Feb 2026, 8:11 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]I dont get why they didnt get charging stuff installed at Durham especially since theyre getting electric buses, or in eldon square or CLS

Who would have paid for it?

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(03 Feb 2026, 4:35 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]This absolutely won't happen.

And there's absolutely no chance GNE would have bought the wrong bus for its flagship route. 

(Ssshhh nobody mention the Angel Omincities!)

Imagine having the brass neck to cobble up a business case for these (having not had the vehicle type out for real life trials) and then waiting in anticipation to be given government money to go out and buy them.

Whilst at the same time, being taken in by the patter from the Wrightbus salesperson who convinces everyone that these buses most definitely will fulfil the operational requirements required.

I quite often use the Oliver Twist analogy. 
But to be honest, I'm starting to err more towards the Cheeky Cockney Conman type character.
I just can't decide who is the best Conman. The salesperson at Wrightbus or the bid writer at GNE.

There are 2 21 Angels broken down at Gateshead heading northbound blocking two stands

Both out of battery according to much amused driver

Someone was filming the chaos not sure if they’re on here

(05 Feb 2026, 5:42 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]There are 2 21 Angels broken down at Gateshead heading northbound blocking two stands

Both out of battery according to much amused driver

Someone was filming the chaos not sure if they’re on here

Maybe the footage will appear in the next glossy GNE video!

Update

I was on the Voltra 21 decker when the driver randomly pulled over and apologised. He was farting around with ticket machine, been asked his remaining charge

(05 Feb 2026, 6:13 pm)Kimlfixit wrote [ -> ]Maybe the footage will appear in the next glossy GNE video!

I'm sure it will make for Electrifying Entertainment, will you need charge to watch it?

Anyone 'in the know' have any idea whats up with Consetts new Ultroliners? All 6 not used today whereas Washington and Riversides are ?

Does seem odd doesn't it? 6 brand new buses at their depot and they're using solos on double decker express routes.

(06 Feb 2026, 5:34 pm)Tiger5105 wrote [ -> ]Anyone 'in the know' have any idea whats up with Consetts new Ultroliners? All 6 not used today whereas Washington and Riversides are ?

Seems to be 1 out per day, 6378 is currently out on the 47.

Everytime i've passed the depot theyve all been parked up. 

Driver training perhaps?

A couple of Consetts ultroliners in the maintenance bays today and one was started, moved forwards then reversed back into its original position in the depot yard as i was walking past.Hopefully  all 6 in use inthe coming days!

Couldn't see exactly what had happened but a new voltra decker broke down( I think) by gateshead police station on the way out of Gateshead at least 3 poss 4 buses were stuck behind. Ended up with all passengers walking back to gateshead People everywhere ;(!!!

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(07 Feb 2026, 9:32 pm)Swiny1 wrote [ -> ]Couldn't see exactly what had happened but a new voltra decker broke down( I think) by gateshead police station on the way out of Gateshead  at least 3 poss 4 buses were stuck behind. Ended up with all passengers walking back to gateshead  People everywhere ;(!!!

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6821. Was one of the first out the depot this morning on the 58.

What's the chances it ran out of charge being out for over 12hours?

(07 Feb 2026, 11:30 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote [ -> ]6821. Was one of the first out the depot this morning on the 58.

What's the chances it ran out of charge being out for over 12hours?

Yeh. Need to up their game around this though. Was embarrassing about 100 people walking back over busy roads to gateshead interchange. From all of the buses stacked up behind it

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6815 expired outside at Saltwell Park yesterday and its passengers moved to 6810 which was behind.

It then limped onto Newcastle about 25 mins late, broke down again in Low fell on the return journey

Not having a good start with these electrics, are they?

The diesel ones have been pretty poor as well. 6378 broke down at the metrocentre yesterday I saw.

Not sure why they didn't take that vehicle out of use at Gateshead if it ran out of charge so soon after leaving there.

(08 Feb 2026, 12:30 pm)Arriva7446 wrote [ -> ]The diesel ones have been pretty poor as well. 6378 broke down at the metrocentre yesterday I saw.

Depends what you define as 'break down'?

Could just be a minor fault or something dead simple but has to be pulled off the road legally.

(08 Feb 2026, 10:03 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Depends what you define as 'break down'?

Could just be a minor fault or something dead simple but has to be pulled off the road legally.

Or you could look at how many have broken down and admit they are terrible. Even the electric are terrible. Im waiting for Kimmy to say its teething issues like she did with the 555. A year after they entered service

Is anyone actually able to say specifically what's going wrong with them? I'm genuinely curious.

(09 Feb 2026, 12:15 am)F114TML wrote [ -> ]Is anyone actually able to say specifically what's going wrong with them? I'm genuinely curious.

*reads off the script I've been given*

Erm it has been wing mirror issues. 
No mileage has been lost.

They weren't broken down...

*nods and winks at paymaster*

Wonder if they are wishing they went with the Yutong U11DD, which to be honest I'm suprised they didn't considering it did quite well on demo operating everyday for a number of weeks. But I'm guessing the group forced GNE hand into getting Wright Streetdeck Electroliners to get a cheaper bulk order.

As electric vehicles are new you need to gradually ease them in... my hypothesis is that you have had 25 odd sat at the factory for a while.

You also have to think as its new the electrics are mega sensitive so any minor issue raises a red flag whereas an older bus would of been ok to go.

also electric buses are different in terms of traction

what no one has noticed is do these buses have a shut off button or do you need to cut the wires?

I think they should be moved onto an easier route.

But also somewhere, where they can be pulled off if needed at both ends for charging.

(09 Feb 2026, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]As electric vehicles are new you need to gradually ease them in... my hypothesis is that you have had 25 odd sat at the factory for a while.

You also have to think as its new the electrics are mega sensitive so any minor issue raises a red flag whereas an older bus would of been ok to go.

also electric buses are different in terms of traction

what no one has noticed is do these buses have a shut off button or do you need to cut the wires?

imo the problem, is they're not fit for purpose and can't do a full days service because they don't have the capacity when the weather isn't nice.

It's affecting everywhere, including Stockton. Stockton just isn't as noticeable because they're not route branded and they're just going back into the depot for what I assume a little top up, before coming back out later to do the late boards.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scne-73092
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scne-73101
https://bustimes.org/vehicles/scne-73105

Just to throw a few examples.

Sunderland and Slatyford have had a full Diesel operation in the evenings for weeks now.

The only thing which will solve is charging infrastructure in Park Lane for the electric vehciels to use to charge even if it is for like 10 mins.

Same with the 21 at Durham and CLS & 58 at Gateshead or heworth

(09 Feb 2026, 11:05 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]The only thing which will solve is charging infrastructure in Park Lane for the electric vehciels to use to charge even if it is for like 10 mins.

Same with the 21 at Durham and CLS & 58 at Gateshead or heworth

imo they need to get those pantograph chargers which Harrogate have if they're serious about electric buses long term for the interurban stuff.

Eldon Square (X1/6/10/10A/10B/12/21/27/X30/X31/X32/X45/47/X47/X71/X72/X73/X77/X78/X89/X82/X87/X88)
Blyth (1/2/X7/X8/X9/X10/X11/306/307/308/309) or Haymarket (X7/X8/X9/X10/X11/X21/X22/306/307/308/309)
Durham (X5/6/7/14/X15/16/16A/20/X20/22/23/24/50/56/65/Locals)
Park Lane (2/8/9/20/X20/24/25/32/35/36/56/60/61/62/E1/E2/E6/X6/Peterlee Locals)

They'd be the obvious starting points (I'd say Park Lane might be a struggle due to a lack of space / clearance though) but that's pretty much every interurban route covered really.

Probs the only place to put this but two ticket machines have tracked at Percy Main today with fleet numbers 8355 & 8356 both tracking on 301 & 356

(09 Feb 2026, 10:43 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]imo the problem, is they're not fit for purpose and can't do a full days service because they don't have the capacity when the weather isn't nice.

It's affecting everywhere, including Stockton. Stockton just isn't as noticeable because they're not route branded and they're just going back into the depot for what I assume a little top up, before coming back out later to do the late boards.

Because Stockton, like Sunderland and many other Stagecoach operations with electric vehicles, have running boards designed around the battery life. Apart from a few exceptions, the majority of Stockton's late evening runs are on boards which drop back to the depot around 5pm (some exceptions do apply - one board on a Saturday goes back to the depot at quarter past 1, goes on charge then goes back out about quarter past 6 to do East Cleveland lates). Heck, go have a look at Chesterfield's blocking on Bus Times - and see how many times early afternoon X17 boards swap onto the slower Sheffield-Chesterfield routes (43 44 or 50) while buses on those boards (either 43 or 44) go onto X17s (last summer, there was a period mid-afternoon in Sheffield where an X17 arrived in from Chesterfield and worked onto a 50, with the arrival off the 50A going onto the now-withdrawn 42 to Lowedges and the 43 which arrived in from Chesterfield heading back that way as an X17).

Just wait till they get as old as the current angels, see what lifes still in them.

I think it will be a future of scheduling them to go NIS from Eldon Square and 30 mins of charging at Riverside.